Weekly Summary: April 13th

Sorry that this has been published so late - luckily there isn't much happening this weekend!

This week in action:

• Abellio took over routes 207/N207 on Saturday 6th April with Enviro 400s from several different batches - there were also some surprise visitors from Battersea (QB) garage covering for ex-C2 buses which haven't finished their refurbishment programme.
• The 607 also transferred to Greenford (G) on this date, using some Gemini 2 B9TLs made surplus from the 207, along with some of its own brand new MCV EvoSeti vehicles. Once electric buses are introduced at Holloway (HT) garage, the rest of these buses will complete the allocation.
• Surprisingly, it has been confirmed that route 81, under Metroline, will operate from Lampton (SG) garage, which currently doesn't house any TfL routes.
• A large crack has been discovered in Hammersmith Bridge, which has resulted in its indefinite closure. Routes 33, 209 and 485 are curtailed to Castelnau, on the South side of the Thames, whilst route 72 is undertaking a terribly long diversion via Mortlake and Chiswick Bridge. This is expected to be a long term arrangement, which must be infuriating for Harrodian School given that the 609 bus there is withdrawn until this is all sorted.
• Route 812, commercially operated by Hackney Community Transport in the Islington area, will be receiving brand new Bluebird Tucana vehicles soon, in an updated livery.
• Metroline have ordered some new ADL Enviro 200 MMCs, of the correct length, for route 393.
• Brand new ADL Enviro400 MMC smart hybrids have entered service at Catford (TL) garage, indirectly replacing Wrightbus Gemini 3 B5LH vehicles at Plumstead (PD) garage, which are expected to go off lease.
• Since the Ultra Low Emission Zone was introduced on Monday (around Central London), all buses entering the area must be hybrid only. This means that Catford (TL) and Hayes (WS) garages will have received £100 fines for sending out 19846 on the 47 and 9530 on the N207 respectively.
• Surprisingly, the last Marshall Capital in London, DMN1, seems to have resurrected.
• Hounslow (AV) garage have started to introduce brand new ADL Enviro 200 MMC DXE-class vehicles to the H37, whose Optare Tempos are expected to be leaving London.
• TfL have updated the results for the Central London Bus Consultation, with most changes going ahead on either June 15th or October 12th. The curtailments to routes 11 and 19 (and subsequent introduction of route 311) have been cancelled, but the 388 will now run to London Bridge instead of curtailing at Liverpool Street.
• TfL propose to introduce a new bus service to the Kidbrooke area, numbered 335, linking the development site with North Greenwich.

These two weekends are super boring, literally nothing is happening. If you want something to do, how about riding some routes you've never touched before. You never know what they may bring...